New sugar factory for Takoradi

A new sugar factory is to be established at Adeatem near Takoradi as soon as negotiations’ currently going on between Messrs Egyir-Yawson Engineering Limited and the Cuban Government is completed.

To this effect, a four-man Cuban delegation led by the Cuban Ambassador in Ghana, Mr. Lucas Domingo Hernandez Pelledo on Thursday inspected the site for the proposed sugar factory.

Other members of the delegation included Mr. Angel Bernal, Commercial and Economic Counsellor at the Cuban Embassy in Ghana, Dr. Oscar Garcia Hector and Mr. Drodis Cabellor, both Sugar experts from the Ministry of Sugar in Cuba.

The delegation also visited the Takoradi Port and the Ghana railway Company to ascertain the facilities on the ground, which could facilitate the exportation of sugar from the factory.

They had earlier paid a courtesy call on the Deputy Western Regional Minister, Madam Sophia Horner-Sam at the residency where the ambassador briefed her about the mission of the delegation.

He said Cuba was exploring the opportunity to invest in Ghana in view of the peace and conducive business climate prevailing in the country, to further strengthen the bond of friendship that had existed between Cuba and Ghana.

Madam Horner-Sam, on her part said most developing countries are faced with massive unemployment problems and hoped the establishment of industries by investors would help solve the unemployment problem.

She said since the government would give the necessary assistance to genuine investors, who want to invest in the country, adding that the Western Regional Administration would give its maximum support towards the successful establishment of the sugar factory.

Mr. Alex Prince Egyir-Yawson, Managing Director of Egyir-Yawson Engineering Limited, who is a sugar expert, briefed the Minister and said the 2,000 tonnes of crushed sugar per day, the factory would not only produce refined sugar but also alcohol and lavenda.

He said apart from producing for the Ghanaian market, the factory could export to landlocked countries like Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal. Mr. Egyir-Yawson said the factory would provide employment to the increasing number of unemployed youth within the Shama Ahanta East Metropolis as well as farmers at Asakae, Adeatem, Mampong and other surrounding villages who would be grouped into Sugarcane outgrowers and would be given sugarcane seedlings to plant for the factory.

He said the establishment of the factory would re-jevunate commercial activities in the Twin-City.

Accompanying the delegation on its rounds were Major (Rtd) S. K. Amponsah, Member of Parliament for Mpohor Wassa East District and the Presiding Member for the Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan Assembly.